NCT07290192

This Study Compares Two Different Ways of Cleaning and Shaping Root Canals During Root-canal Treatment: the Step-down Technique and the Step-back Technique. Iu Want to Find Out Which Method Causes Less Pain After the Procedure. Patients Will be Randomly Placed Into One of the Two Groups, Treated Wit

Comparison of Impact of Step Down Verses Step Back Preparation Technique of Root Canals on Post Operative Pain in Patients Having Pulp Necrosis

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 110 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI), Rawalpindi · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized clinical trial aims to compare the step-back and step-down root canal preparation techniques in patients with pulp necrosis. The study will evaluate which technique results in less postoperative pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Pain intensity will be recorded at specific time points after the procedure using a standardized pain scale. The goal is to identify the technique that provides better patient comfort after root canal treatment.This study is a randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effects of two root canal preparation techniques-step-back and step-down-on postoperative pain in patients diagnosed with pulp necrosis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effects of two root canal preparation techniques-step-back and step-down-on postoperative pain in patients diagnosed with pulp necrosis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. In the step-down group, root canal shaping will begin at the coronal portion and gradually progress toward the apex, while in the step-back group, preparation will start at the apical portion and move backward toward the coronal area. Postoperative pain will be assessed at multiple time points using a standardized pain scale (e.g., Visual Analog Scale). The aim of the study is to determine which technique causes less pain after treatment, helping clinicians choose the method that improves patient comfort following root canal therapy.

Conditions

• Pulp Necrosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Step down technique	Step-Down Root Canal Preparation Experimental Step-Down Technique Procedure Root canal preparation starts at the coronal portion of the canal and progresses toward the apex using endodontic files of decreasing size. Aims to improve irrigation, reduce debris extrusion, and minimize postoperative pain. Step-Back Root Canal Preparation Active Comparator Step-Back Technique Procedure Root canal preparation starts at the apical portion of the canal and progresses stepwise toward the coronal portion using progressively larger files. Serves as the conventional comparator technique to evaluate postoperative pain

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-01
• Primary completion: 2026-08-01
• Completion: 2027-02-01
• First posted: 2025-12-18
• Last updated: 2025-12-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan